Becky Ann Baker

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An accomplished character actress with a strong work ethic, Becky Ann Baker found plentiful opportunities on stage, screen and television, and regularly went back and forth between these mediums. Beginning with the Broadway production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1978-82), the Kentucky native graced a number of popular stage shows, including "Titanic" (1997-98) and "The Vagina Monologues" (1999-2003). It did not take long for Baker to develop a reputation as a dependable supporting player and she was cast in movies that ran the gamut from blockbusters like "Men in Black" (1997) and "Spider-Man 3" (2007) to such small scale indie projects as "Death of a President" (2006) and "Spinning Into Butter" (2009). Television work also figured prominently on Baker's résumé and the actress was a particular favorite of casting directors looking for suburban moms, a role she played with aplomb on the cult comedy series "Freaks and Geeks" (NBC, 1999-2000) as loveable Jean Weir. She later did effective variations on previous matriarchs for programs like "Smash" (NBC, 2012 - ) and the controversial "Girls" (HBO, 2012 - ). Never one to shy aware from a daring role or production, Baker possessed the sort of artistic fearlessness and diversity that helped make her stand out.Becky Ann Baker was born Becky Gelke on Feb. 17, 1953 in Fort Knox, KY, but as part of a military family, she actually spent her adolescence on a number of different army bases. Even though she was never able to set down roots for very long, Baker found ways to cultivate her love of performing, which she first experienced upon watching her mother sing as a soloist in church. Baker's later turn in a grade school production only convinced her more that performing was what she wanted to pursue in life. After graduating from Western Kentucky University with a BA in theater and minors in music and dance, Baker studied under noted acting teacher and director Peter Flood. She made her bow on Broadway in the musical smash "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1978-82), where she played multiple roles, and appeared as Eunice Hubbell in a short-lived revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1988).Baker's film debut came in the New York City sequences of the Jackie Chan vehicle "The Protector" (1985), followed by additional turns in "Full Moon in Blue Water" (1988), "Blue Steel" (1990), "Come See the Paradise" (1990), and "Jacob's Ladder" (1990). At the beginning of the 1990s, she married equally busy character actor Dylan Baker - best known for his chilling performance as a pedophile in Todd Solondz's 1998 film "Happiness" - and adopted his surname professionally, all of which inaugurated a long professional collaboration with him. As a solo actor, Baker was a virtual off-Broadway fixture throughout this period and her credits included "The Colorado Catechism" (1990), the six-part production "Durang/Durang" (1994) and "Laura Dennis" (1995). She also earned a Drama-Logue Award for a 1994 staging of "Night and Her Stars." Movie audiences saw Baker in roles of varying sizes in such major releases as "Lorenzo's Oil" (1992), "Unstrung Heroes" (1992), "Sabrina" (1995), "White Squall" (1996), "Men in Black" (1997), and "In & Out" (1997). The closing years of the decade found her back on Broadway for the musical version of "Titanic" (1997-98), "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told" (1998-99), and "The Vagina Monologues" (1999-2003), as well as television guest appearances on such programs as "Frasier" (NBC, 1993-2004) and "Star Trek: Voyager" (UPN, 1995-2001).A regular small screen gig came Baker's way when she was added to the cast of "Freaks and Geeks" (NBC, 1999-2000), a hip, smartly written sitcom from executive producer Judd Apatow that failed to find an audience, but developed a loyal cult following and helped launch the careers of James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segal. Her performance on the show as a suburban mom proved so endearing that Baker was often tapped to portray s